95
Kyle Campbell
IGN
“Shadowbringers has only further solidified XIV's status as one of the greatest Final Fantasy games ever made.”
Critical Assessment
What Critics Praise
- Heartfelt narrative focus
- Improved voice acting
- Meaningful class reworks
- Two new playable races
- Gorgeous new areas
- Rich worldbuilding in Norvrandt
Points of Contention
- Uncertain lasting appeal
- Loading screens
- Polarizing plot points
- Uneven job‑balancing changes
- High Entry Cost
- Time‑Intensive
Professional Reviews
3 reviews from 3 critics90
Leif Johnson
PCWorld
“Full of emotion and high adventure, Final Fantasy XIV’s Shadowbringers expansion brings MMORPG storytelling out of the shadows.”
80
Josh Brown
Digital Trends
Shadowbringers delivers a compelling narrative, improved voice-acting, and meaningful gameplay updates that make it the strongest expansion since Heavensward. Minor technical issues and content longevity concerns do not detract from its overall quality.
